Author: Puppy

Semper Puppy

The Crazies (2010)

The story of a town that slowly becomes infected with something that turns people into psychotic, bloodthirsty lunatics.  Each in their own way, so it’s not a “zombie” or “infected” flick – they each have a somewhat unique personality, a different take on the psychosis.

The acting is good enough to make the extreme creepiness believable (therefore creepy) and it’s fairly well-written.  There’s also plenty of gore for people who want that.

Unfortunately it’s got about an hour’s worth of good horror movie and it stretches to 1:33.  Best in the beginning til it gets whittled down to 4 (the second time), then clever at the very end.

Grade: C+

7/14/18: The Great Grade Update. Grade: B-

Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead (2011)

Once I realized this Japanese “zombie” (not really) flick was total horsesh1t, I tried to enjoy it as such…like many movies in the past, to one extent or another.

Unfortunately the almost complete lack of intelligence, even in coordinating the stupidity in a mockable pattern, made that very difficult.  With their best efforts, I laughed once, near the beginning.  Then I just waited for the d@mn thing to end…it peaked very early in both stupid and disgusting, and more of the same without anything new for almost an hour was just fcken DULL.

Unless you enjoy lots of a$$ shots, terrible dialogue, vomit, sh1t, farts, fake blood, incoherent plot twists, eyeballs captured in mid-flight, and double replays of a head crushed by buttcheeks, you can skip this.

It’s not, despite its best efforts, as amusing as a superior total-sh1t film: ‘Hobo’, ‘Nazis At The Center Of The Earth’, etc…

Why?  Because there’s almost no intelligence to it.  It’s just supremely weird disgustingness.  Asia seems to specialize in these, for some unknown reason.

To the country that was producing Samurai as opposed to sh1t films with regularity 300 years ago, some advice from one of your ancestors:

“It is said that what is called “the spirit of an age” is something to which one cannot return. That this spirit gradually dissipates is due to the world’s coming to an end. For this reason, although one would like to change today’s world back to the spirit of one hundred years or more ago, it cannot be done. Thus it is important to make the best out of every generation.”

Is this your best?

Inspirational Quote: “My balls!  You flattened them!”

Grade: F

Zombie Hunter (2013)

This one tries to be clever and also epic.  It fails.

It’s got lots of REALLY dumb voiceovers, lots of REALLY dumb dialogue, a cr@ppy hero, and Danny Trejo for about 2 pages of dialogue/lots of mean faces.

The fact that it tries helps, if only to mock it – especially when the POWERFUL music kicks in to back up the failed attempts.  Oh, and when the TITLES pop onto the screen for each CHARACTER and sometimes INANIMATE OBJECTS.

Three menaces: zombies, chainsaw guy, bad CGI.

It made me laugh a few times, so I upped the grade.

Inspirational Quote: “It’s quiet here…it’s almost too quiet…”

Grade: D-

Star Trek – Episode 80 (Turnabout Intruder)

A woman from Kirk’s past switches bodies with him to gain power and revenge.  The crew suspects something is wrong almost immediately, and the suspicion keeps growing, leading to lots of interesting conflict, especially involving Spock.

A pretty good episode, not just for season 3…a solid series ending.

Highlights:
Spock/McCoy discussion
Dr. Lester/Kirk convincing Spock
Spock’s trial for mutiny
Spock in general
mutiny escalation

Lowlights:
all the months/years of training…OOPS!
Kirk’s overacting
Kirk’s fey acting
minor penalty for Dr. Lester’s mass murder

Spockism: “No, Sir. I shall not withdraw a single charge that I have made. You are not Captain Kirk. You have ruthlessly appropriated his body, but the life entity within you is not that of Captain Kirk. You do not belong in charge of the Enterprise and I shall do everything in my power against you.”

Star Trek – Episode 77 (The Cloud Minders)

Kirk and Spock on a planet where the people are separated into elite (cloud city) and workers (mines).  Interesting idea, clumsily executed.

One of the most marginal ones I decided to review…I was desperate near the end.

Highlights:
hot trog – she can act, too!
Kirk’s interesting resolution

Lowlights:
some of Spock’s out-of-character musings and words

Crimson Tide – The Extended Version (Part 4)

00:31:55 – “You know, Mr. Hunter, I really am quite fond of those Lippizaner stallions.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“‘Yes, Sir’ you’re aware that I’m fond of them, or ‘Yes, Sir’ you’re also fond of them?”
“Yes, Sir, I’m aware that you’re quite fond of them.  Quite frankly, Sir, they’re starting to get on my nerves.”
“I see, Mr. Hunter”.
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00:33:13 – “Mr. Hunter, do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, in France?”
“Royale with Cheese, Sir.”
“That’s right, Mr. Hunter.”
“Was there a point to that question, Sir?”
“Not really, Mr. Hunter.  Just wondering about burgers.”

Star Trek – Episode 72 (The Mark Of Gideon)

Kirk is transported into an empty duplicate of the Enterprise, where he meets a woman from a vastly overpopulated planet (Gideon).  Meanwhile Spock bickers politely with a bureaucrat.

It’s not bad, but I never think to myself “I REALLY wanna watch THAT one.”

Highlights:
Spock’s diplomacy
moment of synchronicity
weirdness

Lowlights:
Kirk’s moments of crew apathy
really dumb number oversight
Gideon’s really dumb attempted solution

Grabbers (2012)

Some Irishmen/women must stay drunk to survive alien invasion.

This movie brought to you by ConLushCo, a subsidiary of The Booze Council.

Somewhat clever and fun, actually…mock-horror that’s fairly “believable.”  Sort of like a watery ‘Tremors’.

Inspirational Quote: “Youuuu…really are Irish.”

Grade: C-

7/14/18: The Great Grade Update. Grade: C

Star Trek – Episode 71 (Let That Be Your Last Battlefield)

Basically this is Trek’s way of making an obvious statement on the stupidity of racism while still getting around the 60’s censors.

A guy who’s white on one half and black on the other meets the same, only switch halves.  They hate each other and the Enterprise crew observes their mutual hatred and propaganda.  Good message, ok episode.

Highlights:
guest actors
chat over drinks
ending

Lowlights:
UNNECESSARY ZOOM!!!
longgggg destruct sequence
“go ahead”???
Spock’s play-by-play

Spockism: “To expect sense from two mentalities of such extreme viewpoints is not logical.”

Star Trek – Episode 70 (Whom Gods Destroy)

Kirk and Spock visit a mental asylum and encounter a former starship captain who now considers himself Master of the Universe.  And, of course, he tries to take over the Enterprise. 

Very flawed but quite interesting.

Highlights:
Garth
Marta
Kirk vs. Garth
very interesting (if stupid) resolution

Lowlights:
the dance
weird uggo prisoner line
the coronation
bad continuity

Spockism: “On the contrary, you were treated with justice and compassion, which you failed to show towards any of your intended victims…”

Star Trek – Episode 69 (Elaan Of Troyius)

An arranged marriage to make peace between two planets depends on “instructing” a rather savage leader of one of the planets.  Lots of interesting interaction between Kirk and Elaan.  And then there’s sabo2G to set up the necessary secondary plotline (imminent destruction).  A good one.

Highlights:
Elaan
Kirk’s accurate assessment
Kirk vs. Elaan
Kirk w/ Elaan…ROWR!

Lowlights:
very little Spock action

Crimson Tide – The Extended Version (Part 3)

00:20:20 – “Mr. Hunter…do you like movies about gladiators?
“No, Sir.”
“‘No Sir’, you don’t like movies about gladiators, or…’No Sir’ you…”
“Doesn’t work for this, Sir.”
“I see, Mr. Hunter.”
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.
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00:22:46 – “Mr. Hunter…have you ever been in a Turkish prison?”
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Star Trek – Episode 66 (Plato’s Stepchildren)

Kirk, Spock, and McCoy have to try to escape from a planet where (almost) everyone has the power of mental domination and uses it at will and with total disregard for the dominated.

One of the best third-season episodes.  Also features the Kirk/Uhura kiss.

Highlights:
Alexander
the mood
interesting/disturbing scenes
Spock’s musings/reckonings

Lowlights:
some silliness

Spockism: “Whose harmony? Yours? Plato wanted truth and beauty, and above all, justice.”

Star Trek – Episode 62 (Spectre Of The Gun)

Very flawed but I have a strange affinity for this one.

Landing party gets sent to a Tombstone, AZ re-creation to take part in the ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’ – as the losers.

Highlights:
the premise
guest acting
the mood
the score (hey, it’s cool)
some very interesting exchanges

Lowlights:
moments of obvious stupidity
moments of dumb bickering

Spockism: “History…cannot be changed.”

Star Trek – Episode 56 (Assignment: Earth)

The Enterprise meets Gary Seven in the 20th Century, and has to decide if he’s there for good or evil.  Vaguely remembered as “one of those 20th Century earth episodes”, this one is a bit better than season one’s.

Highlights:
cute but ditzy secretary
Gary Seven
fairly interesting ending

Lowlights:
not particularly exciting or sci-fi

Star Trek – Episode 54 (The Ultimate Computer)

The Enterprise installs a new computer that supposedly will replace manned starships.  It does increasingly naughty/illogical things until Kirk and Co. have to try to destroy it.  Lots of cheeze, but I really like it.

Highlights:
good premise
Spock vs. McCoy
most of Daystrom’s input
landing party drama
Spock’s insult explanation
interesting non-fascination
Spock vs. McCoy again

Lowlights:
Wesley’s acting
Kirk’s sailing ramblings
Daystrom’s insane musings near the end with SCARY music
cheezy resolution

Spockism: “Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.”

Star Trek – Episode 51 (Patterns Of Force)

A Federation observer corrupts a planet into a new Nazi Germany, trying to bring order (success) while leaving out the hateful racism and propaganda (failure).

Highlights:
Spock’s helmet reveal
Spock’s barn confusion
a clip joint-RUFF!
Spock’s revelation
Isak the Zeon
epilogue

Lowlights:
given the premise, not as good as it could have been
weak heils and chants, on and on and on…
weak ending

Spockism: “Captain, I’m beginning to understand why you Earthmen enjoy gambling – no matter how carefully one computes the odds of success, there is still a certain exhilaration in the risk.”

Star Trek – Episode 48 (The Immunity Syndrome)

The Enterprise encounters a massive single-celled entity that appears to drain the life out of everything and everyone it comes near.

A decent episode.

Highlights:
antici…
McCoy/Spock decision
McCoy/Spock interaction
Spock’s calm reports

Lowlights:
a bit of over-long over-drama
pation – dumb ending

Spockism: “Tell Dr. McCoy he should have wished me luck.”

Star Trek – Episode 47 (A Piece Of The Action)

The Enterprise visits a planet whose culture is based entirely on one book about Chicago gangs of the 1920’s.

Intentionally amusing, with lots of heavy cheeze.  Kirk and Spock especially have fun with the concept.

Highlights:
Scotty’s “heater” confusion
Spock’s helpful near-ruining of plan
Spock’s slight radio miscalculation
good guest acting
car hijinx
Kirk’s sudden accent/grammar changes

Lowlights:
one blatantly stupid Fizzbin contradiction

Stalled (2013)

Mostly this is two characters sharing dull dialogue from separate bathroom stalls.  You only get to see one of them, making it that much more interesting.  Very close to the end there are a few non-lavatory shots, but they’re just as meaningless and dull.

There’s also some zombies, but they’re more of a side attraction probably thrown in to get “zombie” in the movie description.

If you watch very carefully, you can see one woman caressing another woman’s ALMOST-BARE BACK in the beginning.

Grade: F

Star Trek – Episode 45 (The Trouble With Tribbles)

The feel-good equivalent of ‘The City On The Edge Of Forever’. 

By that I mean it’s the best feel-good Trek episode ever, and ‘City’ is the best dramatic one ever.  Sort of like Trek movies IV and II.

Highlights:
Chekov’s quips/personality
Under-Secretary Baris
Spock’s easy override of dismissal
Trelane’s return as Klingon commander
Klingon second-in-command
Spock’s commentary throughout
A fat Tribble
second-in-command’s inspired provocation
Scotty’s explanation
cuteness factor
a lotta’ will
Tribble avalanche
perceptive Tribbles
ending humility

Lowlights:
Not particularly “exciting”…but that’s intended
some over-feel-good dramedy
overlong barroom brawl
convenient plot conclusion

Spockism: “They do not talk too much.  If you’ll excuse me, Sir.”

Recommendation – By Puppy

Whenever you’re feeling horrible, horrific, hopeless, helpless, (many other words that apply)…as if your life is simply more painful than it is pleasurable, as if it would be a relief to be rid of that pain, (many other statements that apply), think about this:

Do you have anyone, or anything…any being…in your life that loves you, cares about you, depends on your presence in some way?  That would be greatly harmed by your absence, your non-existence?

If you don’t…adopt.  Pets are some of the best friends you can ever have.

If you do, then your existence serves a purpose.  It is necessary.  And therefore, if only for that, you must exist.  If you believe at all in taking care of those who love you, and who you love.

That’s what I do.  You can’t abandon those you love, no matter what…or you don’t love them.

Therefore I must exist.  Therefore, I do.

Semper Fidelis

P.S. – Because it wouldn’t be a fully “me” post without a bit of silliness and mockery, here goes:

Basically what I’m saying is that offing myself is RIGHT OUT.

So if I ever turn up mysteriously mostly-dead, take it with the validity of this:

“No.  He died.  He have heart attack and fell out of window onto
exploding bomb, and was killed in shooting accident.” – MPFC, ‘The Cycling Tour’

Star Trek – Episode 44 (Wolf In The Fold)

Flawed but very interesting.  It’s the Jack The Ripper one, using the theory that He was in fact an It, surviving through centuries, taking physical form briefly to kill and then disappearing, moving on.

Highlights:
the premise
Mr. Hengist
Scotty doing some decent acting
creepiness
empathic revelation/pained revulsion
logical pattern to Hengist
Spock’s Pi compulsion
happy death murmurs

Lowlights:
blow on the head cr@p
Redjac’s stupidity
some interrogation melodrama/stupidity

Spockism: “In the strict scientific sense, Doctor, we all feed on death…even vegetarians.”

Star Trek – Episode 42 (The Deadly Years)

Landing party meets some REALLY old young people.

Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and someone else become infected with a disease that causes massively increased aging, Chekov does not.  The struggle is to find a cure before they die of old age.  The subplot is Kirk’s failing command abilities, leading to a hearing on his competence.

Highlights:
Two infected people in the intro
Chekov’s quips
Kirk’s quick nap
Spock’s loyalty
McCoy’s quick nap
Spock’s truly dramatic performance/reactions
good old corbomite

Lowlights:
tepid Kirk/lady-of-the-week romance
some old overacting
overly dramatic hearing
Kirk’s really bad old performance/reactions
McCoy’s lip-licking

Star Trek – Episode 40 (Journey To Babel)

There’s a big plot here, of course…near destruction, so on. 

But the real attraction is Spock and his parents: their interactions, and the interactions of others with/around them.

Highlights:
Sarek
emphasis on Spock
a teddy bear!
opposition to survival odds estimation
Spock vs. his mother (truly dramatic)
interesting background on Spock
great ending

Lowlights:
Kirk’s HAIKIBA! kick and sloowwwww recovery
Kirk’s episode summation
sadly-easy combat resolution

Spockism: “Humans smile with so little provocation.”

An Evolutionary Comment

I had thought, for quite a while, about becoming a vegetarian.  Still do, occasionally.

However, the borderline-insanity intolerant and demanding preaching of militant vegans has evoked in me the same reaction that militant atheists used to have toward religion, before their cause became archaic and passe.

Throwing off one’s own “chains” (Thank you, Albert) is fine…but to yell at other people to demand that they do likewise serves no logical or useful purpose.  It merely alienates them and, if anything, pushes them away from your cause.  Which is why I find true believers (or non-believers) infinitely preferable to crusaders of any kind – only an emotional coward (Thank you, DD) would change their beliefs because someone else TOLD them to.  And, as long as any individual is doing no harm with their beliefs – or lack thereof – to mock, insult, yell at, etc…them simply because you feel you are “right” is childish and petty.  And a thorough waste of time.

Well…I appear to have gotten a little off topic there, but…no harm done.

I like the taste of meat.  I’m an omnivore.  Therefore, I will keep eating it.  If you don’t like that…WTF do I care?

Just add “Militant Vegans” to the list of unwelcome site visitors.  Thank you.

-Puppy >.< Yip!

Star Trek – Episode 38 (I, Mudd)

An android takes over the Enterprise and takes it to a planet where Harry Mudd rules supreme.  Not quite the second coming of Khan, but it’s not bad. Especially compared to the first Mudd episode, which stunk.

LOTS of silliness, but it’s mildly interesting.

Highlights:
Spock’s danger confirmation
Chekov’s android interaction
Uhura’s monologue
Spock’s fascination
Spock’s explanation of logic

Lowlights:
Stella interactions
some of the silliness
smoking Norman
cr@ppy ending

Spockism: “Nowhere am I so desperately needed as on a shipload of illogical humans.”

The Three Stooges – Episode 12 (Ants In The Pantry)

Highs:
Rain In The Face
head like Napoleon
convenient ladder
conspicuous (derived from the Latin)
Curly’s free kiss
shakin’ the tootsies
impromptu dance
insufficient rat poison
brief banquet
Curly’s defiance

Lows:
initial pest placement
cat placement
cat piano
piano gags
ending

Grade: B-

12/11/16: Good stuff. And they’re not afraid to tackle politics. Grade: B

Star Trek – Episode 36 (The Doomsday Machine)

A long leech-shaped object with a glowing center slices, dices, and eats planets!

The conflicts are between two ships and said object, and (more interestingly) members of the crew and Commodore Decker.

Highlights:
most of Decker’s performance
Spock’s performance
interpersonal conflict
ending – nicely dramatic

Lowlights:
battle scene(s) conflict
Decker’s ending overacting

Spockism: “Vulcans never bluff.”

Star Trek – Episode 35 (The Apple)

A planet that seems beautiful is explored, with dangerous results.  Then they find a group of people that worship a snake-head god type thing.

Extremely marginal.  Just barely worth reviewing, really…and only because of Spock’s contributions.

Highlights:
relaxed explanation of the word “kill”
Kirk’s ending Satan joke/Spock’s reaction

Lowlights:
extended redshirts death intro

Spockism: “I submit there is no cause for worry.  They’ve taken the first step – they’ve learned to kill.”

The ABCs Of Death (2012)

Ok, so there’s TWENTY-SIX directors here.  They each take a letter and make a short film based on a word beginning with said letter.

That means, each director is responsible for 1/26th of a movie.  Not even 5 minutes.  You’d think with that little responsibility there’d be some interesting ideas, because 1) It’s 26 times easier than making a full movie and 2) There’s 26 chances.

So it’s really sad how many times the ultra-mini-movies suck.

Here are the ones I found interesting:

D (Disturbing, but stick with it for the twist)
H (Very silly, but somewhat interesting)
Q (EASILY my favorite…makes the sh1t ones look that much dumber)
U (Undead point of view)
V (Sci-fi dystopian, interesting)

That’s 5 out of 26.

Some of the rest are so absurd that they’d finish below P.P. Pasolini’s ‘The Third Test Match’.

And of course there’s sh1tloads of credits.

Inspirational Quote: “So Stinky!”

Grade: D-

7/14/18: The Great Grade Update. Grade: D

Foo Real

I thought I knew all it took to bother you
Every word I said was true; that you’ll see
How could it be I’m the only one who sees
Your rehearsed insanity Yeah

I still refused all the methods you’ve abused
Its alright if you’re confused; let me be
I’ve been around all the pawns you’ve gagged and bound
They’ll come back and knock you down
And I’ll be free

I’ve taken all and I’ve endured
One day it all will fade I’m sure

I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything

I had no hand in your ever desperate plan
It will turn and when it lands words are due
I should have known we were better off alone
I looked in and i was shown you were too

I’ve taken all and I’ve endured
One day it all will fade I’m sure

I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything

I’ll Stick Around
I’ll Stick Around and learn from all that came from it

Star Trek – Episode 34 (Mirror, Mirror)

Kirk and a few others beam up into an alternate universe and meet Evil Spock.  And evil others; but Spock is the key, like he usually is.

Moments of stupidity, but mostly quite interesting.

Highlights:
the premise
Spock/Evil Spock
general mood
Kirk/Evil Spock interaction
Kirk’s speech – truly moving, really

Lowlights:
Kirk’s amazing cheezy revelation/weak cheezy reactions to it
weak Evil supporting reactions on the Good Enterprise
Kirk’s “romance”
fitting in Marlena
sad DRAMATIC combat
sad DRAMATIC Uhura/music

Spockism: “I do not threaten, Captain.  I merely state facts.”

Star Trek – Episode 33 (The Changeling)

Another second-tier favorite. 

The Enterprise encounters “Nomad”, a slightly altered version of a known probe that is now seeking out “perfect” life forms and destroying all others.  Kirk and company try to deal with it before it kills everyone.

Highlights:
a whole lotta Nomad
Spock’s Nomad indignation
a lot of interesting lines and conflicts
bluey?
the last 10-11 minutes, really

Lowlights:
long mental probing of Nomad
sudden, convenient episode name

Spockism: “Your logic was impeccable, Captain.  We are in grave danger.”

Star Trek – Episode 32 (Who Mourns For Adonais?)

The Enterprise meets Apollo on a distant planet.  He wants them to stay and worship him, Kirk of course does not comply.  Really stupid in parts, but it has some good moments.  Watch the ending, at least.

Highlights:
Apollo’s rage
interesting theory on the Greek Gods
Chekov again
Apollo’s wistfulness
Kirk providing me with great pleasure by annoying CA/A’s
truly dramatic ending

Lowlights:
INCREDIBLY stupid intro intro, especially McCoy’s commentary
low Spock quotient

Spockism: “Insults are effective only where emotion is present.”

Star Trek – Episode 31 (Amok Time)

Spock enters “mating time”.  So events lead up to that battle between Jim Carrey and Matthew- No, ummm, not quite. 

But it’s got the battle, and the DRAMATIC music (lots of it), and lots more.  It’s actually quite interesting, often dramatic, and even moving at times…the whole episode, not just the climax.

Highlights:
Spock’s performance
Chekov and his quips
very interesting ideas
real drama
cool first weapon
Spock’s logical/emotional outburst
Ending

Lowlights:
stalking nurse
cheezy unreal drama
cr@ppy second weapon

Spockism: “After a time, you may find that “having” is not so pleasing a thing after all, as “wanting”.  It is not logical, but it is often true.”

Star Trek – Episode 30 (Operation: Annihilate!)

It’s got a really stupid episode name!

Besides that, it’s the one with the noisy, semi-flying jellyfish that take over human hosts and eventually drive them insane.  Fairly interesting.

Highlights:
focus on Spock

Lowlights:
jellyfish blobs
the obvious escaping everyone several times

Spockism: “It is proving to be an inconvenience…but it is manageable.”

Star Trek – Episode 29 (The City On The Edge Of Forever)

My favorite episode ever, just ahead of ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’.  Kirk and Spock must travel back in time to prevent McCoy from changing history and thus negating their own existence.  Interesting premise, great execution…a minimum of cheeze, and lots of interesting scenes and lines.

Highlights:
The Guardian of Forever
Much of Spock’s commentary
possible icemen sighting!
Kirk doing some actual ACTING
Edith Keeler
actual emotional involvement

Lowlights:
Spock’s brief out-of-character emotional outburst

Spockism: “He knows, Doctor.  He knows.”

Star Trek – Episode 27 (Errand Of Mercy)

One of my non-Favorites (‘The Trouble With Tribbles’, “The City On The Edge Of Forever’) favorites. 

Kirk and Spock are trapped on a planet of seemingly placid humans who seem unconcerned by the sudden outbreak of war between Federation and Klingons, even when the Klingons occupy their planet.  The contrast between the extreme conflict and the peaceful occupants is quite interesting, if somewhat cheezy.  Hey, it’s Star Trek.

Highlights:
Commander Kor
Kirk/Spock’s confusion/frustration
Spock’s accuracy
ending

Lowlights:
random inconsistent castle
“go climb a tree”????

Spockism: “I should say the Organians are as far above us on the evolutionary scale as we are above the amoeba.”

Star Trek – Episode 26 (The Devil In The Dark)

People are being killed by an unknown creature at a mining colony, and the Enterprise is called to investigate.  It’s a bit more complex than that makes it seem, in a good way.  A bit unusual for a Trek episode, in terms of setting/plot, and not the most exciting, but it’s not bad.

Highlights:
focus on Spock
Spock’s emotional concern for Kirk
cute doggyish movements
admirable maternal instinct

Lowlights:
creature costume

Spockism: “It seems logical, Captain.  The Horta has a very logical mind.  And after close association with humans, I find that curiously refreshing.”